Cheelson Road

A Memory of South Ockendon.

My Mum and I moved to Cheelson Road, South Ockendon from Plaistow in 1955 when I was 3, Dad was away in the Merchant Navy so took no part in the actual move. Cheelson Road was only built on one side with a row of bungalows built in the 1930s by Wilsons The Builders whos offices and yard were next to the old Methodist Chapel, now disused now I think and that is next to a Tesco store now. I have vivid memories of the High Street prior to the prefabs being demolished as having shiplap planked buildings particularly Mr Blow's Forge and hardware shop which would have been twenty or thirty yards behind where the photographer would be stranding taking the photo in 1955, it had a wide open front which horses and vehicles could be brought in. He also had another barn type building opposite where the Post Office was. I went to Benyon Infant and Junior Schools and I remember a date of 1839 on the wall at the front of the school, in those days a kid could walk to and from school without the need of his Mum driving him there, happy days

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